Reporting to: Head of Commercial | Wet Condiments Category

Location: Strand, Montagu or Johannesburg

About the Libstar Wet Condiments Category:

The Wet Condiments Category is part of the Libstar Ambient Products Category, with business sites located in Montagu, Cape Town, and Johannesburg. We operate within a dynamic, forward-thinking organization dedicated to driving innovation, fostering growth, and creating a supportive, inclusive work environment. As part of the broader Libstar team, our goal is to grow our food brands and category solutions in a sustainable and profitable manner. We prioritize building strong relationships with our customers and aim to be South Africa’s leading producer and distributor of high-quality products and brands. To achieve this, we believe that our people are our greatest asset, and we are committed to investing in their development and well-being.

About the Role:

Are you an experienced wholesale account manager with a passion for FMCG and strong customer relationships? Libstar’s Wet Condiment Category is looking for a Wholesale Key Account Manager to lead our engagement with wholesale customers, distributors, and wholesale chains. This role is primarily field-based and remote, requiring frequent customer interaction and the ability to work independently while delivering strategic account plans that drive growth, profitability, and category development.

Key Responsibilities:

Driving Wholesale Sales & Demand

• Deliver the planned financial performance of the wholesale business.
• Manage and grow key wholesale accounts, including independent distributors, wholesale chains, and dealer networks.
• Identify and implement customer programs aligned with the POP vision and strategies.
• Optimize promotional activity and commercial spend across wholesale accounts for maximum ROI.
• Ensure range/SKU optimization specifically for wholesale channels.
• Develop and execute accurate demand forecasts and allocate priorities effectively.
• Work with wholesale customers to create 3-year growth plans differentiating our brands, dealer own brands, and private label products.
• Review new business opportunities and implement ongoing channel development strategies.
• Drive execution of NPDs and product renovations within wholesale accounts.
• Develop and oversee trade communication strategies for wholesale partners.

Customer Engagement & Strategic Influence

• Build strong, trusted relationships with key wholesale customers.
• Act as a strategic advisor to accounts, influencing category strategy and trade programs.
• Collaborate with customers to identify opportunities for growth, profitability, and market share.

Team & People Management

• Lead and develop internal and external teams supporting wholesale accounts, including remote field teams.
• Responsible for people management, succession planning, and performance management within direct team.
• Demonstrate leadership behaviors aligned with company principles and ensure SHE compliance.

Supply Chain & Resource Management

• Ensure wholesale customer forecasts are included in monthly reporting.
• Maintain product availability across all wholesale channels.
• Develop functional competency of wholesale trade partners.
• Oversee appropriate management of field operation tools of trade.

Required Role and Personal Capabilities:

• Proven experience in wholesale key account management within FMCG, including distributors, wholesale chains, and dealer networks.
• Strong commercial, numerical, and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Customer-centric with ability to build strategic partnerships.
• Ability to work independently and manage remote/field-based teams.
• Strong planning and organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Resilient and able to work under pressure.
• Enthusiastic, energetic, and passionate.
• Must have a driver’s license and own vehicle.

Please note that you may on occasion be required to perform tasks that are not part of your normal daily duties, but may be necessary due to the operational requirements of the Company.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Relevant tertiary qualification (commercial degree preferred).
• 5-8 years FMCG experience in field operations, wholesale account management, channel management, business planning, and sales strategy.
• Leadership and people management experience essential.
• Computer literate.

Travel:

• Willingness to travel regularly across regions to meet wholesale customers is essential.

Application:

Please e-mail your CV and a motivation letter highlighting why you should be considered to Aneesa Claronino at aneesac@naturalvinegar.co.za.
Application Deadline: 20 January 2026
If you have not received a response within two weeks of the closing date for applications, kindly consider your application unsuccessful.

NOTE:
To consider any application for employment, we will have to process your personal information. The Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (POPIA), provides that when one processes another’s personal information, such collection, retention, dissemination and use of that person’s personal information must be done in a lawful and transparent manner.

To give effect to the above, we are required to provide you with information regarding the processing of your personal information. This information is recorded under the HR Processing Notice, which can be accessed and viewed on the Company website at https://www.libstar.co.za/legal/.